A “little discomfort” and it starts again for Wendie Renard? The emblematic captain of the French women’s football team had a scare on Saturday against Ireland (1-0), after his late entry into play (78th). It was his big return in the blue jersey, after hip surgery at the end of December. “It wasn’t a concussion, maybe the stress of the first selection,” laughs the 33-year-old defender with 157 caps in the French jersey.
Established on Tuesday in Sweden, Wendie Renard allowed Les Bleues to achieve a decisive success, thanks to a recovery full of opportunism ten minutes from the end, following a header from Marie-Antoinette Katoto (0- 1, 80th). And it was not a luxury to score six points in two matches, given the very strong qualifying group for Euro 2025, in the company of Sweden, Ireland, but also (and above all) the ‘England.
“If I deserve a red card for this…”
As so often (38 goals for the French team in a central defender position!), Wendie Renard allowed her team to take control of this group of death (England has four points), and to sign a success reference among the reigning Olympic vice-champions. A first in the history of the French women’s team (2 draws and 4 defeats so far in Sweden), which necessarily bodes well three months before the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Before that, there will be the double confrontation against the formidable English (May 31 and June 4). Will Hervé Renard be on the sidelines for these meetings? The French coach, who had chosen, as against Ireland, not to field his attacking duo Le Sommer-Katoto (the Parisian only entered on the hour mark), was in any case expelled (58th). The young Lyonnaise Vicki Becho suffered the same fate in added time on Tuesday (90th + 8).
“I only told the referee that when her back was turned, the two Swedish central defenders were hitting Eugénie Le Sommer,” explained Hervé Renard. There were three or four fouls during the first period. I’m polite, I didn’t insult, I didn’t touch, I didn’t say anything bad, just a few words to explain the situation and protect my player. If I deserve a red card for that…”